Behavioral correlates of unilateral dopamine depletion in the MPP+ rat model of Parkinson's Disease

Conventional cylinder test measures have limited sensitivity in determining hemiparkinson rat forelimb use asymmetry and approximating substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic neuron loss. This thesis investigates which cylinder test measures of hemiparkinson rat forelimb use asymmetry best predict methamphetamine-induced rotation and extent of dopaminergic neuron loss. Long-Evans rats were cylinder-tested after unilateral 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced SN dopamine depletion. Time and count of numerous forepaw wall contact patterns were documented for MPP+ hemiparkinson rats and sham-operated controls using frame-by-frame video analysis, then regressed against methamphetamine-induced rotation and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuron depletion. Severely dopamine-asymmetric rats initiated movements slower and less often with the contralateral-to-lesion forepaw, indicating that the cylinder test may be used to assess Parkinson Disease motor impairments of bradykinesia and akinesia. Several new time and count asymmetry measures may improve cylinder test sensitivity to hemiparkinson-specific forelimb use asymmetries.

Authors

• Hardy, Jared C.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Dissertations, Academic
• Parkinson's disease -- Research
• Rats as laboratory animals
• Motor ability -- Research

Identifier

hdl:10133/385

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/385